2020 Hyundai i20 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,699 MOT tests, the 2020 Hyundai i20 recorded a 93.5% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 8.8% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.8%) and tyres (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 451 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.6% once past 60-90k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (8.7% vs 6.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.9% of tests failed in 2022 against 8.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.8% | 524 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.6% | 354 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 326 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 203 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 50 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 451 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 285 |
| 3 | Washers | 185 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 153 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 100 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 55 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.0% | 2,197 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 1,072 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 676 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.0% | 414 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 382 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 144 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 9,302 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,027 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 326 | 12.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,742 | 6.3% |
| Hybrid | 957 | 8.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 210 | 2.9% |
| 2023 | 4,439 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 4,479 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 4,552 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 i20
On a 2020 i20, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (2.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Hyundai i20s pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 13,699 2020 Hyundai i20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Hyundai i20?
Visibility, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by tyres (2.6%).
Does the 2020 i20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 12.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,699 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.